As you age, your face naturally changes. Your skin may lose some of the collagen responsible for its smooth appearance, and fine lines can develop as evidence of a life well lived. While in most cases, these things aren’t preventable, there’s one thing that isn’t inevitable that many people don’t realize adds years to their appearance: losing teeth. Whether you’re missing one more, tooth loss can cause a hollow, sunken look and add decades to your face. Here’s how dental implants can help restore your smile and reverse the hands of time in the process!
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are the world’s only permanent tooth replacement option. They work by surgically inserting a titanium or zirconia post into the jawbone where it fuses in place via a process called osseointegration. The post then acts as the tooth’s new roots, providing the necessary stimulation to keep it secure and protect nearby teeth.
Once the jaw has healed, your dentist will then add a crown, bridge, or denture to the implant or implants. These prosthetic teeth both look and feel real, resulting in a natural, beautiful smile that nobody will know contains prosthetics. Because they completely restore your biteforce, dental implants can be used to enjoy a full diet, and as they are permanent, they do not need to be removed for cleaning or soaking, nor should they ever need to be replaced.
Can Dental Implants Make Me Look Younger?
While it certainly makes sense that replacing missing teeth by any means could help you look younger, temporary solutions like dentures and dental bridges don’t go far enough. That’s because they only replace the tooth or teeth themselves and provide no jawbone stimulation. This means they can’t prevent further tooth loss, nor can they do much to provide support to the facial structure. As a result, you could still lose more teeth, and you may still have that sunken appearance in your cheeks and under your eyes.
Conversely, because dental implants are permanently affixed to the jawbone, they provide a much-needed boost to the face, filling it out and giving it a more youthful appearance. The jawbone stimulation from the post helps prevent your remaining natural teeth from shifting or falling out, keeping your face looking youthful and vibrant.
Finally, your new teeth will likely give you a boost of confidence, so you’ll be more likely to smile, laugh, and engage socially. This will in turn make you look happier and even more youthful in the process!
Remember, while dental implants are designed to replace missing teeth, they’re more than just a pretty face. Restoring lost teeth has many incredible benefits, including the ability to slow the hands of time and take years off your appearance!
About Dr. Hale
Dr. Andrew Hale earned his dental degree from Case Western Reserve University. Since then, he has amassed over 300 hours of continuing education, studying everything from PRF/PRP therapy, digital dentistry, complex extractions, and dental implants. To turn back the hands of time and restore your beautiful smile, schedule a dental implant consultation with us by visiting our website or calling 802-223-2244.